Cardiac Support Programs
Purpose of Cardiac Support Programs
Her Heart Sounds created cardiac support programs for women to provide ongoing emotional support through recovery. For example, many women in the SCAD Stress Management Program report that the emotional ramifications have a greater impact than physical recovery. Other research studies confirm the need for women experiencing significant cardiac events to be provided psychological support. Additionally, we provide SCAD education dissemination and are actively addressing gender disparity in cardiac treatment.
SCAD Stress Management Program
The SCAD specific Stress Management eight-week program is offered on Mondays at 12 pm MDT and Wednesdays at 6 pm (MDT) by Dr. Angela Cassola, PhD in Health Psychology, and Founder and SCAD Survivor, Sheryl Martin. Learn ways to reduce stress and share with other SCAD Survivors from all over the world in a zoom meeting platform. The program will cover the various ramifications of stress with breakout room discussions. To date program data is revealing high efficacy and satisfaction from participants. This program is open to male SCAD Survivors as well. $10 program fee - please pay via this link: Program Fee
- Additionally, we have implemented a Stress Management Program for women who have experienced Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) due to other causes rather than SCAD.
Patient Liaison/Advocacy Service
Please contact us if you need cardiac condition information, assistance with medical advocacy including medical record review, psychological support and referrals. We schedule a zoom meeting or phone call to support you and create an action plan if needed. This service is free and available to women who have experienced cardiac events, and to men who have experienced SCAD.
PTSD Inpatient Prevention Program
Our PTSD program will provide immediate contact to women who have experienced a cardiac event, especially SCAD. This will entail providing a combination of Mental Health First Aid and Resiliency Training to reduce the incidence of PTSD and other emotional disorders like depression, anxiety, and anger.
Virtual Cardiac Support Discharge Lounge
The Virtual Discharge Lounge will provide important services to support a female cardiac survivor including family counseling, etc., back to work protocol and assistance, referral to the Stress Management Program, and orientation services for cardiac rehab. Additionally, patient liaison services will be offered to assist the patient with processing oftentimes misleading, contradictory and confusing cardiac information. The purpose is to support women in their recovery, with the subsequent expected outcome of better cardiac health to reduce recurrence and readmissions. Her Heart Sounds will be obtaining data to measure rates of recurrence and readmissions.
Peer to Peer Program
This is a developing program to provide SCAD Survivors with a peer buddy to assist with support and friendship. All peers will be trained and will sign confidentiality agreements.
Women's Cardiac Rehab
Research indicates that women are referred to cardiac rehab less than men, are less likely to attend, and less likely to complete the program. Therefore, Her Heart Sounds is developing a woman's only cardiac rehabilitation component to be implemented within existing cardiac rehab programs and clinics with a cardiac rehab clinic orientation video and an emotional support component. Additionally, we will provide education dissemination for a SCAD specific protocol.